Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 99 Dodge Ram, 2500 Diesel w/01 Cummins motor Help!

[CReeves]

The block of my '99 Dodge Ram diesel engine cracked and a friend told me that i could replace the diesel engine with a '01 Cummins, no problem! I found a good used engine and replaced the old engine w/the new. It was tough to get the motor swapped out, but finally we did and got the truck working. After the engine replacement, the seat belt light is always on and the truck does not go into overdrive. My wife drove the truck around town on a daily basis without (too much) problem, but after about 2-3 months, noticed lack of power. It seems the auto transmission was not changing gears. She got it to start working properly, just drove around the block and it seemed to get "unstuck". She ran her errand and parked the truck. When she was done with her errand, the truck wouldn't start! Miraculously she got it started and decided to drop off the kids at home (not stop the truck) and get back to work. The truck traveled 10 miles, went thrugh Jack in the box drive thru and (fortunately) as she turned into our driveway, the truck cut out! Since then, we are able to get the truck to run for a period of time but then it cuts out. (When we test drove it, after the first incident, we were stranded on the freeway offramp. ) Anyway, since then, the check engine light has also come on in addition to no overdrive and the seatbelt light which was stuck on after we changed the engine. The truck looks great, has new tires, new batteries, a camper shell, great interior, new engine, starts, but cuts out! I would like get it running properly and keep it for trips or sell it, but I'm stuck right now. I would love to enjoy my truck again. With this economy, I can't afford to buy a new one and I don't want to have to sink a bunch more money either. I've already got $8,000 into it between the new engine and labor I paid other people. Any ideas or suggestions? Your help would be greatly appreciated. You can email me at -- email address removed -- or call me at 805-233-4603.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Is the 2001 engine from a manual or auto transmission truck? Is the 2001 engine an HO? Does the 2001 engine have the original ecm on it? Has the ecm been reflashed to work in its current environment?

Answering these q's will help us diagnose.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[JLandry]

First things first...



Have you checked for Diagnostic Trouble Codes? Post them here so we can help you.



Have you verified adequate fuel pressure exists at the VP44 Fuel Injection Pump inlet port (5 psi or above at all times)?



Good luck,



John L.

 

[MAllen1]

I agree with blacksheep. I know someone who had a 99 with an auto and wanted to change it out with my 99 ecm when I went with the H. O ecm that cummins sold for my engine. My friends truck started acting like yours with the trans and everything. I would check to make sure the ecm, and pcm, matchup to your application. But, seeing as you have said nothing about changing the pcm, I would pull the ecm off your old engine that you pulled out, put it on the engine in the truck now, and see if that works before you seek money into either a new e-or-pcm.